US3756591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for stacking sheets
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-10
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A support has an upper supporting surface and an abutment projects upwardly from the supporting surface and has an abutment surface normal thereto. A conveyor feeds sheets onto this support in direction normal to the plane of the the abutment surface, and has a discharge end which is spaced from the abutment surface in the direction of conveyance of the sheets, and which is also located upwardly from the support surface at a level corresponding to the maximum height of a stack to be formed on the support surface. Various arrangements are provided by means of which the sheets can be oriented and centered with reference to one another while on the conveyor and/or while on the support surface. A detector is arranged in the region of the support and includes a detecting element which can move normal to the support surface to and from an upper position located at the aforementioned level. When the member reaches the level it interrupts the main electrical supply circuit for the conveyor drive.
Inventors
- 👤 H Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/66; B65H29/16; B65H29/18; B65H31/00; B65H31/34; B65H31/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for stacking sheets, comprising a support having an upper supporting surface; an abutment having an abutment surface extending upwardly from said supporting surface normal thereto; a conveyor arranged to feed sheets to said support in direction normal to the plane of said abutment surface, and having a discharge end spaced from said abutment surface by a first distance and spaced by a second distance upwardly from said supporting surface so as to be located at a level corresponding to the maximum desired height of a stack of sheets to be assembled on said supporting surface; orienting means for orienting and centering sheets fed by said conveyor; a first drive for said conveyor; detecting means in the region of said support and including a detecting element movable in direction normal to the plane of said supporting surface to and from said level, said detecting means being operative for switching off said drive in response to said detecting element moving to said level; an accelerator drum rotatably mounted adjacent said discharge end for receiving sheets therefrom and advancing them against said abutment surface; and a discrete second drive for said accelerator drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for stacking sheets, comprising a support having an upper supporting surface; an abutment having an abutment surface extending upwardly from said supporting surface normal thereto; a conveyor arranged to feed sheets to said support in direction normal to the plane of said abutment surface, and having a discharge end spaced from said abutment surface by a first distance and spaced by a second distance upwardly from said supporting surface so as to be located at a level corresponding to the maximum desired height of a stack of sheets to be assembled on said supporting surface; orienting means for orienting and centering sheets fed by said conveyor; a first drive for said conveyor; detecting means in the region of said support and including a detecting element movable in direction normal to the plane of said supporting surface to and from said level, said detecting means being operative for switching off said drive in response to said detecting element moving to said level; an accelerator drum rotatably mounted adjacent said discharge end for receiving sheets therefrom and advancing them against said abutment surface; and a discrete second drive for said accelerator drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising varying means for varying said first distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising varying means for varying said second distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises at least one endless belt; and further comprising varying means for varying at least one of said distances.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said conveyor comprising at least one endless belt; and said orienting means comprising a belt section located at said discharge end and extending in at least substantial parallelism with said abutment surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said conveyor comprising at least one endless belt having opposite lateral sides; and wherein said orienting means comprises orienting and centering members located at said opposite lateral sides, and actuating means for symmetrically displacing said members transversely of said belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, said orienting means further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the spacing of said members with reference to said belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said conveyor comprising at least one endless belt, and said belt having a conveying surface which is of concave contour in transverse direction of said belt and at least in the region of said discharge end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said belt is composed of a plurality of parallel, discrete endless belt portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, said first drive comprising an electromotor having an energy-supply circuit; and wherein said detecting means comprises a switch controlled by movement of said detecting element and interposed in said circuit for interrupting the same in response to movement of said element to said level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said conveyor comprising a downstream section including at least one endless belt and having said discharge end and a receiving end, and an upstream section also including at least one endless belt and adapted to supply sheets onto said downstream section at said receiving end thereof; and wherein said drive advances said downstream section at a higher rate of speed than said upstream section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11; further comprising a pressure-exerting belt having a run juxtaposed and moving in parallelism with a conveying surface of at least said downstream section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said orienting means comprising a rake mounted in the region of said discharge end and movable toward and away from said abutment surface normal thereto and above said supporting surface, for engaging said stack and orienting the sheets thereof relative to one another and to said abutment surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |